One Of My Tetras Is Nearly Dead :(

[stuhyde]

He started by swimming on his back and sorta twisting round, took him out main tank, and he is just lying there with his mouth going a little bit.

Moved bowl a bit and he sorta swam to other side of bowl, then proceeded to rest on his side...

He has only been in the tank 2 days...

All the other fish are absolutely fine, all water parameters perfect, but I dont know what to do about this neon, whether to euthanase him or what

Help appreciated

 

[Lynda B]

It's quite possible that you purchased an unhealthy fish. You're right to isolate him. I wouldn't euthanize until you figure out if he's actually sick or just stressed. What kind of tetra is it (sorry, just saw neon)? And did you buy more of that kind from the same tank?

Can you tell whether it's a young or old fish?

 

[stuhyde]

Thanks for the reply

Yes I bought 5 from the same tank, the 4 are fine, this one however ALWAYS isolated himself from the other 4, always did his own thing, now this

 

[Lynda B]

If he was displaying that behavior in the store, too, then you might want to just return him. I think he's most likely ill or old. In either case, not something you want to introduce to your tank.

 

[stuhyde]

I did think of returning him, but for the sake of £1 Im not sure that is worth it.

 

[stuhyde]

Watching him, he sorta swims about for a bit, then goes on his side and sits there

Dont know what to do for the best

 

[rowdyburns21]

I'd say it's probably best to euthanize mate, but thats just my opinion i hate to see the poor little neons suffering i love them little guys, good luck whatever you do

 

[stuhyde]

Euthanise - HOW?Hes probably dead now anyway sama:nope he aint dead, just wants to lie on his side and play dead He definitely isnt right....

 

[stuhyde]

Well just checked him, he's still the same, lively when I go near then nearly dead ...

I'll leave him till tomorrow but the water wont have any oxgen

Dont know what to do for the best

 

[Spooky76]

If hes got no oxygen / no filter / no heat hes going to die.
Put him back in the main tank in a hospital net or something.
Try medication like melafix for a day or two see if he improves. If its obvious he isnt improving or suffering I would put him out his misery. But make it quick. I.e. have everything ready so hes not out the water ages.

Smash his head with a hammer or something similar, its not nice I know but neither is suffering. But I would at least try a medication first as then you know for the future.

 

[2day]

That is so cruel, it would be better to put him in a small plastic bag and put him in the freezer.

 

[Spooky76]

What is cruel about that ?
I can safely say that smashing it with hammer / brick will kill it instantly, can you say the same about putting a fish in the freezer ? And I also made the point of saying that trying to save it first would be my preference.

 

[Lynda B]

I guess part of my previous post was that the store should know that they're selling sick fish. If you return it, they might know what's wrong with him. So, it wasn't a return because of the money spent.

 

[Spooky76]

I suspect sometimes, with neons and such like, because they are in a smallish tank with lots of them, it would be easy for one fish to stay in there a long time and NOT be caught, so you could end up unluckily with an old one.

 

[HelpOscar]

Just a guess, but could it be stressed? Like in shock or something? Just a guess...